Arizona man allegedly owes $25,000 in child support

A San Tan Valley man, allegedly $25,000 behind in child support payments, was arrested and booked into jail after a chase that covered an entire golf course.

Patrick G. Moloney, 47, ran from his home near Johnson Ranch Golf Course last Thursday after Pinal County deputies came to his house looking for him, said Tim Gaffney of the Pinal County Sheriff's Office.

Deputies were investigating a claim by his ex-wife that he owed $25,000 in back child support for their 16-year-old daughter and that he was planning to leave the area as soon as he received a tax refund check, Gaffney said.

A PCSO sergeant and detective drove to Moloney's house and saw him smoking a cigarette in his garage, Gaffney said.

Moloney ran into his house and shut the garage door. A witness inside the home told police he ran out the back of the house onto the golf course.

The sergeant and detective were provided a golf cart and, starting on the 18th, they worked their way back to the first hole. They received reports from golfers about the direction Moloney was running, Gaffney said.

An out-of-breath Moloney was found and caught at the first hole.

He was booked into the Pinal County Jail on an outstanding warrant from Maricopa County Superior Court for failing to pay child support. His bond was set at $10,000.

Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu said Moloney also owes back child support for two children from a previous relationship.